×

Calendar

March 2022
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Feb   Apr »

Archives

SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Bishopscourt Racing Circuit

  • SUPPORT
  • LOGIN
  • HOME
  • THE CIRCUIT
    • Circuit History And Information
    • Bishopscourt, Life Before Racing
    • Circuit Records
    • Circuit Photos
  • VISITORS
    • Accommodation
    • Local Restaurants
    • Local Area
    • Petrol Stations
    • Links
  • RESULTS
  • GALLERIES
    • Videos
  • CONTACT US
  • Photographers
  • Entry Forms And Regs
  • Home
  • Blog / News
  • Former Irish Supersport champion Ali Kirk hangs up leathers
29th January 2023

Former Irish Supersport champion Ali Kirk hangs up leathers

Former Irish Supersport champion Ali Kirk hangs up leathers

by bishopscourtcircuit / Wednesday, 23 March 2022 / Published in Blog / News, Motor Bike Racing, Ulster Superbikes

By Kyle White Belfast Newsletter

Ulster Superbike frontrunner Ali Kirk has called time on his career after admitting he has lost the motivation to continue racing in 2022.

The Dromara man won the Irish Supersport title in 2008 and finished as the runner-up last season in the Ulster Superbike Championship, when he was beaten to the trophy by Alastair Seeley.

Kirk also enjoyed racing on the roads and competed at the North West 200, Ulster Grand Prix, Cookstown 100 and Frohburg in Germany.

He made the decision to step away from road racing at the end of the 2018 season following a dark year for the sport, when Dan Kneen, William Dunlop and James Cowton were among the riders who tragically lost their lives.

A well-liked figure in the paddock, the Co Down man says he began to lose his desire for racing in recent years after finding it impossible to replicate the buzz of racing between the hedges.

“The roads were the only thing that really spiced my season up and when I quit them it just hasn’t been quite the same buzz,” Kirk said.

“I got a sickener after what happened in 2018 when a number of great lads were killed and I stepped away from doing the roads.

“I always did say that whenever I quit the sport, I wanted to be healthy, fit and still quite fast; I didn’t want to be dragging it on and start to get slower before I finally decided to step away,” he added.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a year or two now and I just think the time is right. To be just going to two tracks each year wasn’t doing it for me and I feel I’ve had my fill of it.

“Between building the new BMW S1000RR last year and going racing, the cost was over £50,000. I’ve never gone racing for money, ever since I started when I was 16, so I’ve been in debt to motorbikes since I began.”

Kirk – who is now getting his two-wheel fix by riding enduro bikes at weekends – especially enjoyed racing on the Dundrod course at the Ulster Grand Prix, where he finished second to newcomer Peter Hickman in 2014.

“I never had any luck at the North West and whether it was red flags, races being cancelled or the bike breaking down, I only finished about two races,” he said. “I never had any success there really and I didn’t really enjoy the track.

“The Ulster Grand Prix was my favourite road race and in 2014 I finished second to Peter Hickman, who was racing at Dundrod for the first time in the Dundrod 150 Challenge race.

“I had a lot of top 12 finishes at the Ulster Grand Prix in the Superstock races and in 2015, I finished fifth in the Supertwin class on a Supertwin that Michael Sweeney lent me.

“I always seemed to have a decent run at Dundrod and I’ve lapped there at 129mph, which wasn’t too bad; I was close to a 130mph lap without just getting there.

“Cookstown was the only Irish national race I ever did and I got sixth in the main Superbike race. I thought that would have lit my fire for the Irish road races but they just weren’t for me at all.”

Kirk plans to spend some time away from the short circuit paddocks but is set to help out his good friend Michael Sweeney this year, starting at the North West 200.

“I love the sport and I’ve quite a few good friends,” he said.
“‘Micko’ Sweeney already has me roped into helping him out – by the sounds of it he thinks I’m going to be his crew chief!
“I’ve enjoyed it and I owe so much to my uncle, Jason McCurry (McCurry Motorsport), who’s been with me from day dot.”

  • Tweet
Tagged under: AKR Racing, Ali Kirk

About bishopscourtcircuit

What you can read next

Alastair Seeley and Michael Dunlop top Enkalon Trophy entry
Paul Jordan ‘in best position ever’ as Burrows Engineering/RK Racing rider looks ahead to Cookstown 100
Alastair Seeley closing in on Ulster Superbike and Supersport title double

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Recent Posts

  • Team Wood Motorcycle Youth Academy continues support for young hopefuls in 2023 Ulster Superbike Championship

    By Kyle White Belfast Newsltter A host of young...
  • Team Wood Motorcycle Youth Academy 2022 Season Round up.

    The Team Wood Motorcycle Youth Academy had a ve...
  • Richard Kerr dominates for maiden Sunflower Trophy victory at Bishopscourt

    By Kyle White Belfast Newsletter Richard Kerr p...
  • Richard Kerr makes winning start at Sunflower Trophy meeting as Alastair Seeley clinches Superbike pole

    By Kyle White Belfast Newsletter. Richard Kerr ...
  • Michael Dunlop confirmed as late entry for Sunflower Trophy race on McAdoo Racing Kawasaki

    By Kyle White Belfast Newsletter Michael Dunlop...
  • From Joey Dunlop to Jonathan Rea – every winner of Northern Ireland’s prestigious Sunflower Trophy race

    By Kyle White Belfast Newsletter The prestigiou...
  • Alastair Seeley has golden chance to add his name to illustrious Sunflower Trophy roll of honour at Bishopscourt

    By Kyle White Belfast Newsletter. Alastair Seel...
  • Cooper and Hutchinson for Sunflower Trophy races

    Multiple Pirelli National Superstock champion R...
  • Sunflower Trophy Motorcycle Races

    Over the past number of years, the Sunflower ha...
  • Former winners Christian Iddon and Richard Cooper join line-up for Buildbase Suzuki at Sunflower Trophy

    By Kyle White Belfast Newsletter. Former winner...

Categories

  • Blog / News
  • Car Racing
  • Circuit News
  • Karting
  • Minibikes
  • Motor Bike Racing
  • Other News
  • Rally
  • Road Racing
  • Ulster Superbikes
  • Uncategorised

Archives

BishopsCourt Racing Circuit Ltd

address 29 Lismore Road, Bishopscourt, Downpatrick, BT30 7SY

tel NI: +44 (0)28 4484 2202

tel Rep.IRE: 048 4484 2202

tel Mobile: +44 (0)7813329090

email roy@bishopscourt.org

 

Map Location

LATEST GALLERY:-Ulster Superbike Championship Rnd 8 1st October

Ulster Superbike Championship Round 8 1st October
Click to View Album

 

 

FOLLOW US

  • Tweet
  • GET SOCIAL

© 2018 Bishopscourt Circuit Ltd. All rights reserved.

TOP